Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26
Saṃsāra-duḥkha: Karmic Descent, Garbhavāsa, Life’s Anxieties, Death, and the Call to Jñāna-Bhakti
बाल्यभावमासाद्य मातापित्रोरुपाध्यायस्य ताडनं सदा पर्यटनशीलत्वं पांशुभस्मपंकादिषुक्रीडनं सदा कलहनियतत्वाम शुचित्वं बहुव्यापाराभासकार्यनियतत्वं तदसंभव आध्यात्मिकदुःखमेवंविधमनुभवति ॥ २६ ॥
bālyabhāvamāsādya mātāpitrorupādhyāyasya tāḍanaṃ sadā paryaṭanaśīlatvaṃ pāṃśubhasmapaṃkādiṣukrīḍanaṃ sadā kalahaniyatatvāma śucitvaṃ bahuvyāpārābhāsakāryaniyatatvaṃ tadasaṃbhava ādhyātmikaduḥkhamevaṃvidhamanubhavati || 26 ||
Having fallen into a childish disposition, one undergoes inner (ādhyātmika) suffering of this kind: being constantly beaten by one’s parents and teacher, habitually roaming about, playing in dust, ash, and mud, remaining perpetually quarrelsome, living in impurity, and being endlessly engaged in the mere appearance of many activities without real accomplishment.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a didactic context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: hasya
FAQs
It identifies immature, restless, and impure habits as direct causes of ādhyātmika-duḥkha (inner suffering), implying that spiritual progress begins with disciplined conduct, cleanliness, and steadiness.
Bhakti requires a stable and purified mind; the verse shows that quarrelsomeness, aimless roaming, and impurity scatter attention and prevent genuine practice—so ethical restraint becomes supportive groundwork for sustained devotion.
Indirectly, it underscores śikṣā and ācāra (discipline and proper conduct) as prerequisites for learning; without steadiness and purity, study and practice become only ‘ābhāsa’—a mere appearance of activity without real attainment.